By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- Erica Schultz scored 23 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead Pacific University to a 72-52 victory over Willamette University in a Northwest Conference women's basketball game on Friday, Jan. 6 at Cone Field House. Pacific moved to 9-2 on the season, 2-1 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette fell to 1-11 overall, 0-3 in the NWC.

Schultz was 7 of 16 from the field and hit 9 of 10 free throws. She also contributed two assists and a game-high four steals. Brittney Anderson of Pacific earned 12 points, 10 boards and two assists. Paige Henson added 12 points , six boards and three steals.

Jojo DeLong (Fr., PG, Santa Clarita, CA/Canyon HS) led the Bearcats with 13 points. Julia Brand (Fr., Wing, Kaneohe, HI/Punahou School) of Willamette topped all players with 12 rebounds, helping the Bearcats finish with a 45-44 advantage on the glass.

Three Bearcats -- Mackenzie Lamson (So., Wing, Portland, OR/Lincoln HS), Rebecca Josephson (So., Wing, Fair Oaks, CA/Del Campo HS) and Katelyn Nordlien (Fr., Wing, Salem, OR/North Salem HS) -- each contributed eight points. Kaileigh Westermann (Sr., F, Belfair, WA/South Kitsap HS) provided nine rebounds, while Nordlien earned six boards.

The game was a battle for most of the first half, with four ties and three lead changes. WU scored the game's first two points on free throws by Josephson at the 18:18 mark, before the Boxers claimed leads of 8-4 and 14-11.

Willamette responded with a 7-0 run for an 18-14 advantage with 12:27 left in the half. The run by the Bearcats started with a layup by Brand and included a 3-point play by DeLong on a basket and foul shot, plus a jumper by Lamson.

Pacific tied the game at 18-18 when Schultz sank a pair of free throws at the 10:14 mark. Willamette edged back in front on a layup by Lamson with 9:25 to go.

The Boxers countered with six consecutive points to take a 24-20 lead with 7:05 on the clock. Pacific held a slim 24-23 lead with 5:21 remaining, but closed the half with a 12-3 run for a 36-26 advantage.

Schultz scored 12 of her points during the first 20 minutes. DeLong topped Willamette with eight points at the break.

Westermann put through a jump shot 16 seconds into the second half to pull WU within eight points. Pacific took a 34-30 lead after Erica Colter nailed a 3-pointer with 18:11 to go, but Willamette eventually battled back within eights points, 45-37, on a 3-pointer by DeLong at the 16:04 mark.

Pacific went on a 10-2 offensive surge over the next three minutes to take control of the game at 55-39, and Willamette never got closer than 12 points the rest of the way. The Boxers held their largest lead at 72-47 with 2:29 remaining.

For the game, Pacific was 26 of 66 from the field (39.4%) and 4 of 11 on 3-pointers (36.4%). The Boxers hit 16 of 22 free throws (72.7%).

The Bearcats shot 31.1% overall (19 of 61), including 2 of 11 on three-point shots (16.7%). WU sank 12 of 17 free throws (70.6%). Pacific forced the Bearcats into 20 turnovers, while the Boxers lost the ball 10 times.

Willamette will play again on Saturday, Jan. 7 at nearby NWC rival Linfield College. Game time in McMinnville, Ore., is set for 6 p.m. (PST).